Champions Celtic look for five-game motivation

Last updated : 20 April 2012 By AFP

The Parkhead club's season is effectively over after they clinched the SPL title two weeks ago and were subsequently knocked out of the Scottish Cup.

Neil Lennon's side face third-placed Motherwell at Fir Park on Sunday and Thompson says the Old Firm side will keep their focus until the end.

"We would still like to improve on the tally from last season. So that still gives us the focus, to finish with more than 92 points," the first team coach said.

"We have still got good games to go in the league, including Rangers at home. In a few weeks time they will get their league medals and the trophy. They will enjoy that and hopefully will get a taste for that again."

Celtic's hopes of ending the season with a double were ended by Hearts last weekend as they won their Scottish Cup semi-final 2-1 at Hampden.

However, South Korean midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung is hoping to get back to winning ways against Motherwell and believes the champions will be able to play with freedom, having already clinched the title.

"We don't have any pressure now and I think the players will be more comfortable so maybe we can play with a bit more comfort," Ki said.

"It's never easy in away games but if we are focused on the game we should win it. I was very pleased to win the league and become the champions.

"It was my first-ever league title in my career so it was a huge moment for me and an honour. But we will keep working. The season is not finished. Even though we're disappointed about the Hearts game we still have these games left.

"We will stick together and keep working just as a champion team should do."

Celtic will have to do without manager Neil Lennon, who has been handed a two-match touchline ban following his criticism of referee Willie Collum following his side's League Cup final defeat to Kilmarnock.

Elsewhere, rivals Rangers face a tough away match to Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday.

It has been a season to forget for the Ibrox club who were docked 10 points after entering administration in February and will end the season with no silverware.

Despite the clouds hanging over the Glasgow giants American midfielder Maurice Edu says his own game has improved this season and has given the fans hope by telling them there is more to come.

"I've been pleased with my form. I've built on the way last season ended and tried to bring something to the game in every match," the American said.

"I've tried to be someone my team can depend on. Over the course of the season, I feel I have been pretty consistent and I feel I'm getting better. I feel there's a little bit more to come from me, too."

The Gers will need to do without captain Steven Davis who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a groin injury.

Saturday

St Johnstone v Dundee United, Hearts v Rangers, Inverness CT v Aberdeen, St Mirren v Dunfermline

Sunday

Motherwell v Celtic, Hibernian v Kilmarnock

Source: AFP

Source: AFP